Road-wagon



(No M0 61.) SALADBE.

Road Wagon. v No. 240,464. Patented April 19,1881.

N PETERS. PHOTO LiTHOGRAPH ER. WASHINGTON. D, O.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEicE.

CYRUS W. SALADEE, OF WOLCOTTVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

ROAD-WAGON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,464, dated April19, 1881.

Application filed January 31, 1881.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CYRUS W. SALADEE, of Wolcottville, State ofConnecticut, have invented certain Improvements in Road-Wagons, of whichthe following is a specification.

The first part of my invention relates to springs for supportingcarriage bodies or platforms of any kind; and it consists of two flexionmembers, arranged one over the other, the upper member being attacheddirectly or indirectly to the body or platform, and the lower memberbeing connected to the upper and attached to the side bars or frame ofthe runnin g-gearor other support, the upper and lower members being ofsuch form that the bending or straightening of the lower member willalter the form of the upper to impart increased tension, therebysecuring, under all pressures and in all positions, an extremely elasticsupport, and preserving the position of the body or platform, whetherloaded centrally or at the side.

The other part of my invention relates to the mode of securing the endcross-pieces of a frameas the side-bars in aroad-wagonto the rear axleand bolster thereof, and has for its object more secure, sightly, andsimple attachment at these points.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the first part of myinvention. Fig. 2 represents, in perspective, the running-gear of aside-bar wagon, except the wheels and shafts, with my improvements. Fig.3 represents a side or end elevation of a body, showing the manner ofattaching thereto the improved spring-support. Fig. 4 representsamodification of myimproved spring-support. Fig. 5is a detached topviewof the springs seen in Fi 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view, showingmy improved connection; and Fig. 7 a perspective view of the clip.

The principle of my invention is best illustrated in the diagraml, whereB and C are the members of the spring, the member B being attached atone end to the body or other platform, A, and the member C being securedat its outer end to the frame or other support, E, and both beingconnected at their inner ends. The shape of the two members is notmaterial, except that it should be such that as the member C isflattened or changed in form (No model.)

under pressure it will act as a lever to depress the inner end orportion of the member B, while the two may be shaped so that the descentof the body will result in gradually increasing the bearing of the upperupon the lower member, thereby shortening the latter and imparting theincreased stiffness necessary to support the increasing load. Thus inthe construction shown in Fig. 1 any descent of the body A tends toflatten the member C, and the latter, bearing on the upper member atabout the point x, acts as a lever to bend down the inner end of themember B, to which it is connected, both members being thus subjected totension; but, owing to the different forms in diiferent ways, the uppermember, instead of being bent toward the body, as in ordinary springs,being bent from it. As the two members are pressed together the bearin gof the upper upon the under is increased. The lower member is thuspractically shortened, imparting an increased tension or stiffness, sothat as the vehicle is loaded the strength or resistance of the springwill increase correspondingly. Thus when the load is light the memberswill be in contact from 3 to 00; when loaded the contact will be from 3to 00. Two or more such springs may be combined but in practice I,prefer to use the arrangements shown in Figs. 2 to 5, where the springsare duplex in character.

The member B, which I term the fulcrumspring, is curved upward at eachend and attached to the body A, the member C attached at its center N tothe center portion of the fulcrum-spring, and is hinged or otherwisesecured to the side bars, E, at the ends L, or it may be secured to thebolster and rear axle if used as a side spring. When the body of thevehicle is loaded the weight is sustained at the five points D, D, L, L,and N, and as the weight is increased the spaces K K, between thefulcrum and the main springs B C, are closed correspondingly, thebearing of the upper member is extended, and a proportionately greaterresistance offered as the load increases or descends. By this means theupper and lower members of the springs automatically adjust themselvesto the weight imposed. The member B serves thus in the double capacityof a supplemental spring and as a fulcrum on which tion.

the lower spring, 0, acts as a lever. The fulcrum-spring B will, ofcourse, have a limited spring-action of its own independent of the lowermember.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is represented a-modifica- The members are dividedcentrally between their outer bearings, the ends arranged side by sideand united by a bolt in such manner as to form an operative joint, themembers in other respects being constructed and attached to the body andthe frame of the gear, as before described. As the weightis applied tothe body A the joint N is carried down, by the lever-like action of thelower member, in the direction of the arrow H, and the spaces betweenthe springs indicated by arrows K K are closed, as before described; butin this case it"is best to make the fulcrum-springs B B of heavier steelor of a greater number of plates than in making the spring shown in Fig.3.

1f desirable to reduce weight, the fulcrumsprings B, Fig. 4, may be madeeach of a light single plate of steel, and a supplemental reacting orreturning spring may be interposed in such manner as will tend torestore the joint N to its normal position, as well as to give supportto the fulcrum-springs. (See dotted 1ines,Fig. 4.) If preferred, thejoint N may be formed by milling out one-half of each eye where the twoare in contact, and thus halve the eyes together and bring the dividedsprings on a line with each other, in place of placing them side byside, as now seen in Fig. 5. It will now be seen that in addition tothese springs automatically adjusting themselves to the weight imposed,their central connection will further compel a unity of action of all ofthe members, causing them to adjust themselves to carry the body levelwhen loaded more on one side than the other; for, when one side isdepressed the central joint or connection is also carried down, takingwith it in its vertical movement the springs on the opposite side, andthus compels an almost perfectly level movement of both sides of thebody, and prevents its side or tilting motion.

The other part of my invention relates to a fastening for the meetingside bars of the frame.

A blind-clip, J, Fig. 7, is formed with ahole, L'in the top, and withterminating fingers J J. The front end of one bar-as, for instance, sidebar, E-is placed in position on the end of the other bar-say a bolster,F, Fig. 6. Holes are bored on each side of the bar F to receive thefingers of the clip J, which is now placed on the top of the bar withits fingers in the holes. The whole is firmly and rigidly held togetherby a bolt, 1 passing vertically through the clip opening I and throughboth bars, and united or secured by a nut at either end. This bolt P mayalso hold the end of an under brace, 1t, secured at the other end to thebar E at the rear of the clip J. A strong, cheap, and neat connection isthus secured.

Without limiting myself to the precise arrangement of parts shown,

I claim 1. Aspring-support for the bodies of vehicles and otherplatforms, consisting of two fiexion members arranged one over theother, the outer end or ends of the upper member being attached to thebottom of the body and curved upward toward the latter at the center,the outer end or ends of the lower member being attached to the sidebars or other support, and the said members converging and being unitedat their inner portions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A spring-platform in which a lower spring member secured to a sidebar or other support at the outer end is attached at the inner portionto the free portion or end of an upper spring member, the other end ofwhich is connected to the body, bot-h portions being curved upwardtoward the center of the body, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,with the fulcrum-spring B and main supporting-springO, centrally united between their outer bearin gs bya hinged joint, N,of the supplemental spring 1?, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. The combination, with the meeting-bars of the frame, of a clippassing over the top of one bar and having fingers extending into theopenings in the other bar, a bolt or rivet passing up vertically throughboth bars and clip, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the cross-bars, clipbolt, and brace R,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CYRUS W. SALADEE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. FosTnR, O. L. McNEIL.

